Steve

trust me. a new walker reel isn't useful! you likely are out of luck. I always suggest Okuma's to newbie's....as they are always replaced by Okuma when issues arrise.

that motor plugs in here. so technically I'm running in reverse to most boats ... what a surprise eh!

I'm actually doing the opposite. My 24v batteries are at the bow of the boat, but I have two trolling motors wired to them (bow and stern mount). We ran conduit from the front to the back, under the floor boards.... i'd be surprised, with the way a alaskan is weighted, that they would want the 24v battery system in the back. Your cranking battery is already in the back, with the main outboard, and yourself (as I recall, your boat is a tiller?) You may find your boat will porpoise (sp). Mine does. (edit: IF I keep my 24v batteries in the stern) However, my boat was designed with the battery compartment up in the front, not the back.

anglers on OFC are similar to the MNR - wanting to believe everything is an atlantic. I'm sure the bio will reply back to the OP, and will confirm.

nope, I don't think anyone can.

crappie, that middle class life style is still out there....but it now takes some education and more than just "passing highschool". folks will adapt. my old man did. others will as well. my old man told me not to get into the manufacturing sector....poor guy took a huge pay cut when he was rehired after two years off....not fun. its a changing world we are in...

yamaha doesn't want folks to know... especially when you look at the price difference between a 50hp and a 60hp.... have a look (a VERY close look) at the specs...

if it is a yamaha 50hp - don't forget to get the marina/dealer to pop out the exhaust governer... you actually have a fully functioning 60hp on your hands. have a look at the specs between a 50hp and a 60hp. identical!

Dave, I spoke with a Shimano Canadian Sales rep this AM. He advised that they are only making the new warranty process known if asked. Likely next time you ask, you'll be informed accordingly.

To quote Dan Thorburn, Shimano product support specialist, on Wednesday March 14, 2012: Going forward we have moved to Wild Card on the new rod models. Same program with better service. No charge and replacement through the dealer. I realize this is not great for everyone, but for most of the customers this is a great service. No need to call or go online to place the order. No waiting for shipping or having to ship the old rod back. Xpeditor is now a one time per rod service anyways, so going to the Wild Card should not be a shock. Its also a no cost replacement vs. $100 for the current Xpeditor service. Remember this is a service. A service can change at any time. Warranty changes would require post dating or changes to the wording on the warranty coverage. These are two different things. Given the Xpeditor changed over 2 years ago this argument is not going to change anything. The Wild Card is the future for any new models. Edited for quoting.

only board that i'm part of that doesn't have lurking is a members only/invite only board. every other public board has lurking. i think it's just part of the deal. if anyone can join and be a member, which is the intent of 95% of internet sites, then you just gotta get used to it. i don't see how making this a members only board would make it any different.

"they all carry the standard limited lifetime warranty plain and simple." DaveMC, unfortunately that is not correct. Many of the new Shimano rods are moving to Wild Card program. It has been confirmed directly from Shimano that the standard warranty/expeditor program will be a thing of the past - all rods will have the wild card program.

cable drives do bounce around in waves. you can tighten it down, to reduce the bouncing, but then it becomes stiffer to move. I think you made the right call with your choice to go to a 24v system. 55lbs thrust, 12v systems work great in open water. Get them around heavy slop, and they become a waste of money.

Lunker, it sounds like our boats are very similar. Mine is 17' and weighs 676 w/out Motor. I have a 50hp motor. After having a 55lbs thrust for a brief period of time, I quickly jumped up to an 80lbs thrust motor. This was ONLY due to enjoying heavy slop bass fishing. I needed the 80lbs thrust to cut through the slop. Otherwise, the 55lbs thrust would have been fine. The 24v setup was no issue in my boat. Likely wouldn't be in yours either? I only paid 900 for my 80lbs thrust maxxum from Fishing World in Hamilton. I tried Joc at the time, he couldn't touch Blakes price. I used to run powerdrives, prior to the cable drives. power drives are great for trolling! I have nothing against them at all. Which ever you go with, have fun using it!

Billy, I have a seizure disorder. I get MRI's within 24 hours. I have had five in the last 10 years. Many ECG's, EEG's, and CAT's as well. And I don't pay a cent for them. (no need for Buffalo MRI - legal form of financial raping) It's all who you talk to, and who you hear stories from.

no but i clearly remember WHO he replaced. and there isn't anyone in my life time who was a worse detriment to the entire world than him. So Obama - well, he's lucky. He could do whatever he possibly wants (and I mean whatever), cause following dub, he can do no wrong. Dub will definitely go down as the worst president in the history of the USA. Obama will simply be forgotten.

Big Jons are as much art as they are machinery. Even 35 years later .... No plastic or composite components found on these babies!!!

Dave, yours sound like mine, except mine (big jon as well) date back to 1976. the original motors failed this year. 36 years of use!

Solo, what goes for one should be allowed to go for all. I'd say start tying.

great news Miller. Yours looks like a male as well. Mine was a male. Males have a better chance of growing that large - due to some anglers need to kill/rape browns for bait.

yep, she's a pig! Only the second 20lbs'er I've seen since 2004. She's longer than my big girl, just a little less girthy. 22lbs even looks like an exact weight. Congradulations - a huge accomplishment. Released? I released mine, but still kick myself for doing it....would have made a great wall mount! Miller - again, congradulations. A huge feat to top 20lbs with a brown. ESPECIALLY WITH A LAKE BROWN - not a port D ditch brown. AMAZING.

Again we have more examples of confusion instigated by the unknown. Each company (insurance company, not broker) can have their own set of underwriting guidelines. If one company doesn't have a "first time boaters" surcharge, that doesn't mean they all don't. Each company has their own set of guidelines. Although I'm not near the marine side of the industry, it makes perfect, logical sense to have a surcharge for a first time boater. Not saying all companies have it, but it is not impossible that one or two do. I really think the gentleman who was told they could get their layup removed for free get it in writing for the reasons I listed above.

i run stern and a bow mount trolling motors. both are 80lbs thrust minn kota's. I run two series 31 batteries in the front. The bow mount and stern mount run off the same front batteries, connected via minn kota plugs. Bow Mount: Stern Mount: The Stern Mount Plug: I use my Stern Mount trolling motors tons more than I thought I ever would. I picked it up really cheap. I would never consider trolling without it now. As you note, I run a tiller as well. I'm going to eventually put a bow mount finder on the boat, until then, my stern mount, infront of your driving seat, is best. I basically just completed my dream customization on my boat. However, I fished for 8 seasons prior to making my decisions...so lots of hours behind the decisions. Let me know if you have any more questions...I love the tillers!

It is very interesting to see how differently americans and Canadians look at the same situation.

grimsby bylander, i would like to clarify what you have suggested. assuming you have a broker, not a direct writer, brokers are famous for stating what you just said. "after the fact" is easy to say, "oh ya, we would have extended it for free..." However, it is not the broker who makes that call, it's the company who is providing the insurance's underwriter. The broker can say whatever they please, but don't make that call. Do yourself a favour. Send your broker an email, in writing, stating further to our discussion, I understand next year I can "drop you a line" to let you know i'll be using my boat prior to the layup period expiry, and I further undertand I can do so at no additional premium. See how your broker responds. This is an example of why insurance gets a bad rep. A broker can "say" whatever they want, but they dont have the power to follow through. Only the underwriter can agree to extend cover without additional premium. Again, I really think you should get it in writing. Even if you "do" get it in writing, the broker has an easy out. "well sir, last year I was able to do so, however, the company has changed their underwriting guidelines, and unfortunately i cannot do so this year". Gotta love insurance!